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Skilled trades tapping into Aboriginal community

Nov. 19, 2013, Ottawa – Aboriginal peoples are well represented in the skilled trades, with participation roughly equal to representation in the Canadian population, says the Canadian Apprenticeship Journal (CAJ).

As population growth among indigenous peoples continues to outpace the Canadian average, Aboriginal peoples will continue to be an important segment of the skilled trades workforce.

The last issue of CAJ showcased successes and ideas about overcoming common challenges faced by indigenous peoples.
Several common themes and insights emerged:

· Cultural awareness and support is the cornerstone of many successful initiatives

· Every person and community is unique – solutions have to be customized

· Remote location, essential skills, socio-economic circumstances and limited work/training opportunities within Aboriginal communities affect individual learners to varying degrees

“We are seeing innovative, creative solutions from every corner of the country when it comes to addressing Canada’s skills shortages. This issue of the journal addresses the issue from an Aboriginal perspective, showcasing specific examples about overcoming barriers to apprenticeship training,” said Sarah Watts-Rynard, executive director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, in a press release. “Indigenous peoples are an important part of the skilled trades workforce and a group many employers want to tap into, underlining the importance of sharing insight into what’s working across the country.”

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, which publishes CAJ, is a non-profit organization working with the apprenticeship community in all regions of Canada. Participants work collaboratively to support vibrant and innovative apprenticeship systems and policies, with a view to developing a highly skilled, inclusive and mobile skilled trades workforce.

For more information, please visit www.caf-fca.org.